What is the Difference Between Angina and Heartburn

Chest pain often can be a symptom of heart, lung, or other diseases. Angina and heartburn are two conditions that usually occur in the chest area. Both these conditions may have chest pain as a symptom. However, they are different conditions with different aetiologies.

The key difference between angina and heartburn is their symptoms. Angina results in sensations like pressure, tightness, or squeezing rather than pain, while heartburn results in a sensation like burning that may travel to the throat.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Angina  
3. What is Heartburn
4. Similarities – Angina and Heartburn
5. Angina vs Heartburn in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Angina and Heartburn
7. FAQ – Angina and Heartburn

What is Angina?

Angina is the chest discomfort that happens when the heart is not receiving enough oxygen. About 10 million people in the United States normally experience angina. The symptoms of angina may include chest pain, chest pressure, squeezing sensation in the chest, pains that spread to the jaw, arms, back, or belly, and indigestion. It is caused due to myocardial ischemia by coronary artery disease, coronary microvascular disease, and coronary artery spasm.

Angina can be diagnosed through medical history, physical examination, and imaging tests. Furthermore, treatment options for angina may include anticoagulants, blood pressure medications, nitroglycerin, cholesterol medications, lifestyle changes, coronary artery-by-pass grafting (CABG), percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), and enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP).

What is Heartburn?

Heartburn is the painful burning sensation in the chest. It is caused by stomach acid rising into the esophagus through acid reflux, esophageal ulcers, esophagitis, and reflux hypersensitivity. The symptoms of heartburn may include chest pain, burping, a sour taste in the mouth, nausea, regurgitation of food, stomach bloating, hiccups, chronic cough, asthma, sore throat, laryngitis, and difficulty swallowing.

Heartburn can be diagnosed through physical examinations, upper endoscopy, and esophageal pH tests. Furthermore, treatment options for heartburn may include taking antacids, alginates, H2 blockers, proton pump inhibitors, antibiotics, topical steroids, low-dose neuromodulators, hernia repair surgery, Nissen fundoplication, transoral incisionless fundoplication, and implanting a LINX device.

Similarities Between Angina and Heartburn

1. Angina and heartburn are two conditions that usually occur in the chest area.
2. Both these conditions may have chest pain as a symptom.
3. Both these conditions can be diagnosed through physical examination and imaging tests.
4. They can be treated through specific medications and therapies.

Difference Between Angina and Heartburn

Definition

1. Angina is the chest discomfort that happens when the heart is not receiving enough oxygen.
2. Heartburn is the painful burning sensation in the chest.

Causes

1. Angina is caused by myocardial ischemia by coronary artery disease, coronary microvascular disease, and coronary artery spasm.
2. Heartburn is caused by stomach acid rising into the esophagus through acid reflux, esophageal ulcers, esophagitis, and reflux hypersensitivity.

Symptoms

1. Symptoms of angina include chest pain, chest pressure, squeezing sensation in the chest, pains that spread to the jaw, arms, back, or belly, and indigestion.
2. Symptoms of heartburn include chest pain, burping, a sour taste in the mouth, nausea, regurgitation of food, stomach bloating, hiccups, chronic cough, asthma, sore throat, laryngitis, and difficulty swallowing.

Diagnosis

1. Angina is diagnosed by medical history, physical examination, and imaging tests.
2. Heartburn is diagnosed by physical examination, upper endoscopy, and esophageal pH test.

Treatment

1. Treatment for angina includes anticoagulants, blood pressure medications, nitroglycerin, cholesterol medications, lifestyle changes, coronary artery-by-pass grafting (CABG), percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), and enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP).
2. Treatment for heartburn include taking antacids, alginates, H2 blockers, proton pump inhibiors, antibiotics, topical steroids, low dose neuromodulators, hernia repair surgery, nissen fundoplication, transoral incisionless fundoplication and implanting a LINX device.

The infographic below presents the differences between angina and heartburn in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.

Summary – Angina vs Heartburn

Angina and heartburn are two conditions that usually occur in the chest area and may have chest pain as a symptom. However, angina is the chest discomfort that happens when the heart is not receiving enough oxygen while heartburn is the painful burning sensation in the chest. Moreover, angina is a condition which usually gives sensations like pressure, tightness or squeezing rather than pain while heartburn is a condition which usually gives sensation like burning that may travel to the throat. Thus, this summarizes the difference between angina and heartburn.

FAQ: Angina and Heartburn

1. What is the main cause of angina?

• The most common cause is coronary heart disease. This happens when the arteries that supply the heart muscle with blood and oxygen are narrowed by a fatty substance called plaque.

2. What is the best treatment for angina?

• Nitrates or beta blockers are usually recommended first for people with stable angina. Moreover, calcium channel blockers are an alternative if there are side effects or other conditions that limit the use of beta blockers and nitrates. Surgeries are recommended in severe cases.

3. What are the symptoms of heartburn?

• Heartburn mainly occurs due to chronic acid reflux (GERD). The symptoms of this condition may include chest pain, burping, a sour taste in the mouth, nausea, regurgitation of food, stomach bloating, hiccups, chronic cough, asthma, sore throat, laryngitis and difficulty swallowing.

4. What is the treatment of heartburn?

• Antacids, which help neutralize stomach acid, are a treatment for heartburn. Antacids may provide quick relief and reduce stomach acid. Other treatments include proton pump inhibitors, antibiotics, topical steroids, low dose neuromodulators, hernia repair surgery, Nissen fundoplication, transoral incisionless fundoplication, and implanting a LINX device.

5. How can you tell the difference between gastric pain and heart pain?

• Cardiac chest pain is normally felt in the central or left side of the chest, while gas-related pain like heartburn may be more diffused and concentrated in the upper abdomen or lower chest.

Reference:

1. “What Is Angina?” National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
2. “Visual Guide to Understanding Heartburn and Gerd.” WebMD.

Image Courtesy:

1. “A man having a Heart Attack” By Myupchar.com  (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia

2. “Woman Holding Hands on Her Chest” (CC0) via Pexels